Abstract:

A wheel assembly for applying ink to a target surface comprises a wheel
member defining a support portion, at least one adhesive sheet, and at
least one inking member. The at least one adhesive sheet is detachably
attached to the support portion of the wheel member. The at least one
adhesive sheet defines an outer adhesive surface. The at least one inking
member is detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface of the at
least one adhesive sheet. When the at least one inking member detachably
attached to the adhesive surface is brought into contact with the target
surface, ink on the at least one inking member is transferred to the
target surface.

Claims:

1. A wheel assembly for applying ink to a target surface, comprising:a
wheel member defining a support portion;at least one adhesive sheet
detachably attached to the support portion of the wheel member, where the
at least one adhesive sheet defines an outer adhesive surface; andat
least one inking member detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface
of the at least one adhesive sheet; whereinwhen the at least one inking
member detachably attached to the adhesive surface is brought into
contact with the target surface, ink on the at least one inking member is
transferred to the target surface.

2. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising a plurality of
adhesive sheets detachably attached to the support portion of the wheel
member.

3. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, in which:a first adhesive sheet
is attached to the support portion of the wheel member; anda second
adhesive sheet is detachably attached to the first one adhesive sheet
such that the second adhesive sheet defines the outer adhesive surface.

4. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, in which:a first adhesive sheet
is attached to the support portion of the wheel member;a second adhesive
sheet is detachably attached to the first adhesive sheet; anda third
adhesive sheet is detachably attached to the second adhesive sheet such
that the second adhesive sheet defines the outer adhesive surface.

5. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a release
sheet that is detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface, where
the release sheet is detached from the outer adhesive surface to expose
the outer adhesive surface.

6. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality
of release sheets, wherein:each adhesive sheet defines a plurality of
adhesive surfaces; andeach release sheet is detachably attached to one of
the adhesive surfaces of an associated adhesive sheet.

7. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 6, in which:each adhesive sheet
defines an inner adhesive surface and an outer adhesive surface; andeach
release sheet is attached to the outer adhesive surface of the associated
adhesive sheet.

8. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, in which a plurality of inking
members are detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface.

9. A method of applying ink to a target surface, comprising the steps
of:providing a wheel member defining a support portion;detachably
attaching at least one adhesive sheet to the support portion of the wheel
member such that the at least one adhesive sheet defines an outer
adhesive surface;detachably attaching at least one inking member to the
outer adhesive surface of the at least one adhesive sheet;bringing the at
least one inking member detachably attached to the adhesive surface into
contact with the target surface to transfer ink on the at least one
inking member to the target surface.

10. An inking method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of
detachably attaching at least one adhesive sheet to the support portion
of the wheel member comprises the step of detachably attaching a
plurality of adhesive sheets to the support portion of the wheel member.

11. An inking method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps
of:providing at least one release sheet;detachably attaching the at least
one release sheet to the outer adhesive surface; anddetaching the release
sheet from the outer adhesive surface to expose the outer adhesive
surface.

12. An inking method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps
of:forming a plurality of adhesive surfaces on each adhesive
sheet;providing a plurality of release sheets;detachably attaching one of
the plurality of release sheets to an outer adhesive surface of each of
the adhesive sheets; anddetaching the release sheet from a selected
adhesive sheet to expose the outer adhesive surface of the selected
adhesive sheet.

13. An inking method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps
of:forming a plurality of adhesive surfaces on each adhesive
sheet;providing a plurality of release sheets;detachably attaching one of
the plurality of release sheets to an outer adhesive surface of each of
the adhesive sheets; anddetachably attaching one of the plurality of
release sheets to an inner adhesive surface of an adjacent adhesive
sheet.

14. An inking method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of
detachably attaching at least one inking member to the outer adhesive
surface comprises the steps of detachably attaching a plurality of inking
members to the outer adhesive surface.

15. A wheel assembly for applying ink to a target surface, comprising:a
wheel member defining a support portion;a plurality of adhesive sheets
detachably attached to the support portion of the wheel member, where one
of the plurality of adhesive sheets defines an outer adhesive surface;
anda plurality of inking members detachably attached to the outer
adhesive surface of one of the plurality of adhesive sheets; whereinwhen
the plurality of inking members detachably attached to the adhesive
surface are brought into contact with the target surface, ink on the
plurality of inking members is transferred to the target surface.

16. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 15, further comprising a release
sheet that is detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface, where
the release sheet is detached from the outer adhesive surface to expose
the outer adhesive surface.

17. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 15, further comprising a
plurality of release sheets, wherein:each adhesive sheet defines a
plurality of adhesive surfaces; andeach release sheet is detachably
attached to one of the adhesive surfaces of an associated adhesive sheet.

18. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 17, in which:each adhesive sheet
defines an inner adhesive surface and an outer adhesive surface; andeach
release sheet is attached to the outer adhesive surface of the associated
adhesive sheet.

19. A wheel assembly as recited in claim 17, in which:each adhesive sheet
defines an inner adhesive surface and an outer adhesive surface;each
release sheet is attached to the outer adhesive surface of the associated
adhesive sheet; andat least one release sheet is also attached to the
inner adhesive surface of an adhesive sheet adjacent to the associated
adhesive sheet.

[0004]The present invention relates ink stamping systems and methods in
which an ink impression is formed on an image surface. The ink is applied
to a stamp member on which a design is formed in bas relief. The stamp
member with ink thereon is brought into contact with the image surface
such that ink is transferred to the image surface to form an ink
impression or image in a configuration corresponding to the design on the
stamp member.

[0005]The present invention is of particular importance in the formation
of artistic rather than commercial ink impressions. Art stamping uses the
same basic ink stamping process as commercial ink stamping but has
evolved to allow more precise creative control over the details and
quality of the resulting ink impression. The principles of the present
invention may also have application to commercial ink stamping, however.

[0006]Ink stamping systems for use by art stampers are designed and
constructed primarily to obtain a high quality ink impression, with
flexibility of use also being of importance. Considerations such as
repeatability of the ink impression, ease of use, and durability of the
stamping devices are of lesser importance than in the commercial ink
stamping environment.

[0007]In one conventional form, an inking assembly comprises a stamp
member formed by flat sheet of rubber. A design formed in bas relief on a
first surface of the stamp member. A stamp member is typically flexible,
in which case a second surface of the stamp member is supported by a
rigid member. The rigid member may comprise or be attached to a handle
that facilitates manipulation of the stamp member.

[0008]Continuous inking assemblies that form a continuous, repeated ink
image are also known. Such inking assemblies comprise a stamping wheel
that supports a stamp member defining a cylindrical stamping surface. The
design formed in bas relief on the stamp member is formed on the outer
surface of the stamp member. The stamp member is mounted on a handle or
handle assembly such that the handle can be grasped to roll the stamp
member along an ink pad and then along an inking surface to form the
desired ink impression on the inking surface. In some continuous inking
assemblies, the ink pad is also mounted to the handle such that ink is
continuously applied to the outer member of the stamp member as the stamp
member rolls along the inking surface.

[0010]The present invention may be embodied as a wheel assembly for
applying ink to a target surface comprising a wheel member defining a
support portion, at least one adhesive sheet, and at least one inking
member. The at least one adhesive sheet is detachably attached to the
support portion of the wheel member and defines an outer adhesive
surface. The at least one inking member is detachably attached to the
outer adhesive surface of the at least one adhesive sheet. When the at
least one inking member detachably attached to the adhesive surface is
brought into contact with the target surface, ink on the at least one
inking member is transferred to the target surface.

[0011]The present invention may also be embodied as a method of applying
ink to a target surface comprising the following steps. A wheel member
defining a support portion is provided. At least one adhesive sheet is
detachably attached to the support portion of the wheel member such that
the at least one adhesive sheet defines an outer adhesive surface. At
least one inking member is detachably attached to the outer adhesive
surface of the at least one adhesive sheet. The at least one inking
member detachably attached to the adhesive surface is brought into
contact with the target surface to transfer ink on the at least one
inking member to the target surface.

[0012]The present invention may also be embodied as a wheel assembly for
applying ink to a target surface comprising a wheel member defining a
support portion, a plurality of adhesive sheets, and a plurality of
inking members. The plurality of adhesive sheets is detachably attached
to the support portion of the wheel member such that one of the plurality
of adhesive sheets defines an outer adhesive surface. The plurality of
inking members are detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface of
one of the plurality of adhesive sheets. When the plurality of inking
members detachably attached to the adhesive surface are brought into
contact with the target surface, ink on the plurality of inking members
is transferred to the target surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of a continuous
inking assembly constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the
principles of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of a first example inking wheel
assembly that may be used by the inking assembly of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the first example inking
wheel; and

[0016]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a second example inking wheel
assembly that may be used by the inking assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017]Referring initially to FIG. 1, depicted at 20 therein is an inking
system constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the principles of
the present invention. The inking system 20 comprises a handle assembly
22 and a wheel assembly 24. The wheel assembly 24 defines an inking
surface 26. The example inking system 20 is illustrated applying an ink
image 30 to a target surface 32 of a target member 34. The example target
member 34 is a sheet of paper, but the target surface 32 may be formed by
target members other than a sheet of paper.

[0018]In use, ink is applied to the inking surface 26, and the inking
surface 26 is brought into contact with the target surface 32. With the
inking surface 26 is in contact with the target surface 32, the handle
assembly 22 is displaced relative to the target member 34. The wheel
assembly 24 rotates relative to the handle assembly 22 as the handle
assembly 22 is displaced relative to the target member 34. As the inking
system 20 is moves along the target surface 32, ink on the inking surface
26 is transferred to the target surface 32 to form the ink image 30.

[0019]A first example wheel assembly 24a is depicted in FIG. 2 of the
drawing. The first example wheel assembly 24a comprises a wheel member
40, at least one adhesive assembly 42, and at least one inking member 44
defining an inking surface 46. The wheel member 40 comprises a
cylindrical support portion 50, at least one spoke portion 52, and an
axle portion 54.

[0020]The first example wheel assembly 24a comprised three adhesive
assemblies 42a, 42b, and 42c. The example adhesive assemblies 42 each
comprise a sheet 60 of double stick tape and a sheet 62 of release
material, as perhaps best shown in FIG. 2A. Each sheet 60 of double stick
tape defines first and second adhesive surfaces 70 and 72. The release
sheets 62 each define first and second non-adhesive surfaces 74 and 76.

[0021]The length of the tape sheet 60 is approximately equal to the
circumference of the cylindrical support portion 50, and the width of the
tape sheet 60 is approximately equal to the lateral dimensions of the
support portion 50. The release sheets 62 are initially in contact with
the second adhesive surfaces 72 of each of the sheets 60 of double stick
tape.

[0022]The release sheets 62 are formulated such that the release sheets 62
may be detachably attached to the tape sheets 60. The release sheets 62
prevent the second adhesive surfaces 72 from inadvertently becoming
bonded to another surface and protect the second adhesive surfaces 72
from becoming contaminated. However, the release sheets 62 may be
detached from the tape sheets 60 to expose the first and second adhesive
surfaces 70 and 72 as will be described in further detail below.

[0023]As initially configured, the example wheel assembly 24a comprises
three of the adhesive assemblies 42, each one comprising a single tape
sheet 60 and a single release sheet 62. The second non-adhesive surface
76 of the outermost release sheet 62 is thus exposed.

[0024]In the example depicted in FIG. 2B, the release sheet 62 of the
outermost adhesive assembly 42c has been removed, exposing the second
adhesive surface 72 of the tape sheet 60 of the outermost adhesive
assembly 42c. With the wheel assembly 24a removed from the handle member
22, the inking member 44 is brought into contact with the exposed second
adhesive surface 72 of the outermost adhesive assembly 42c to detachably
attach the inking member 44 to the wheel member 40 with the inking
surface 46 exposed. The wheel assembly 24a is then detachably attached to
the handle assembly 22. Ink is applied to the inking surface 46, and the
inking system 20 may then be used in a conventional manner to form the
ink image 30 on the target surface 32.

[0025]If a different ink image is desired, the inking member 44 may be
removed, and another inking member may be detachably attached to the
wheel member 40 using one or more of the layered adhesive assemblies 42.
The inking system 20 may be used to form a different ink image with the
different inking member attached thereto.

[0026]The tape sheet 60 defining the second adhesive surface 72 of the
outermost adhesive assembly 42c can be use once and discarded, but more
likely the tape sheet 60 will be used multiple times. Eventually,
however, the adhesive properties of the second adhesive surface 72 of the
outermost adhesive assembly 42c will diminish.

[0027]At this point, the tape sheet 60 of the outermost adhesive assembly
42c can be removed, exposing the release sheet 62 of the intermediate
adhesive assembly 42a. The release sheet 62 of the intermediate adhesive
assembly 42b can then be removed, exposing the second adhesive surface 72
of the tape sheet 60 of the intermediate adhesive assembly 42b. The tape
sheet 60 of the intermediate adhesive assembly 42b may then be used to
attach one or more inking member to the wheel member 40 as described
above.

[0028]When the adhesive properties of the tape sheet 60 of the
intermediate adhesive assembly 42b become diminished, the tape sheet 60
of the intermediate adhesive assembly 42b can be removed, exposing the
release sheet 62 of the innermost adhesive assembly 42a. The release
sheet 62 of the innermost adhesive assembly 42a can then be removed,
exposing the second adhesive surface 72 of the tape sheet 60 of the
innermost adhesive assembly 42a. The tape sheet 60 of the innermost
adhesive assembly 42a may then be used to attach one or more inking
members to the wheel member 40 as described above.

[0029]The example inking system 20, and in particular the wheel assembly
24 thereof, can thus be used and reused in a highly flexible manner that
allows an art stamper to form custom continuous ink images.

[0030]Turning now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, depicted therein is a second
example wheel assembly 24b. Like the wheel assembly 24a described above,
the wheel assembly 24b comprises a wheel member 80, at least one adhesive
assembly 82, and a plurality (two or more) of inking members 84 each
defining an inking surface 86. The wheel member 80 and adhesive assembly
82 may be the same as the wheel member 40 and adhesive assemblies 42
described above and will not be described in further detail herein.

[0031]The example wheel assembly 24b may, like the first example wheel
assembly 24a, originally comprise a plurality of the adhesive assemblies,
each originally also comprising a sheet of release material. At the stage
of use depicted in FIG. 3, however, the second example wheel assembly 24b
comprises only a single adhesive assembly 82, with only a sheet 90 of
double-stick tape of that adhesive assembly 82 remaining. Either only one
such adhesive assembly 82 may be been originally provided, or additional
adhesive assemblies may have been removed.

[0032]FIG. 3 illustrates that the tape sheet 90 defines first and second
adhesive surfaces 92 and 94. The first adhesive surface 92 is adhered to
the wheel member 80, and the second adhesive surface 94 is exposed. In
the example wheel assembly 24b, the plurality of inking members 84 are
individually adhered at desired locations on the exposed second adhesive
surface 94 of the tape sheet 90. So adhered, the inking surfaces 86 are
extend outwardly from the wheel assembly 24b. The user can thus
detachably attach the inking members 84 to different locations on the
exposed adhesive surface 94 to create a desired arrangement of the inking
surfaces 86 about the circumference of the wheel assembly 24b.

[0033]When the wheel assembly 24b is attached to the handle assembly 22
and ink is applied to the inking surfaces 86 of the desired arrangement
of inking members 84, the inking system 20 may be used in a generally
conventional manner to form an ink image corresponding to the desired
arrangement of inking surfaces 86.

[0034]The handle assembly 22 is or may be conventional. Examples of handle
assemblies appropriate for use as the example handle assembly 22 are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,659,007 and 7,194,954, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0035]In the specific example embodiments described above, the example
adhesive assemblies are substantially planar and have two exposed
surfaces and two edges. The example adhesive assemblies described above
comprise an adhesive sheet both exposed surfaces of which are adhesive;
in this case, release sheets are arranged between each pair of release
sheets. The release sheets allow the adhesive sheets to adhere to each
other to prevent inadvertent removal of an outer adhesive sheet from an
inner adhesive sheet adjacent thereto but allow the outer adhesive sheet
to be removed by deliberate application of manual force.

[0036]Alternatively, only the external exposed surfaces of the adhesive
sheets may be made adhesive; in this case, the internal exposed surfaces
are formed of a material that adheres to the adhesive, external exposed
surfaces sufficiently to prevent inadvertent removal of an outer adhesive
sheet from an inner adhesive sheet adjacent thereto but releases to allow
the outer adhesive sheet to be removed from an inner adhesive sheet by
deliberate application of manual force. In this case, a separate release
sheet may be provided for the outermost adhesive sheet to prevent
contamination of the adhesive, external exposed surface of the outermost
adhesive sheet during manufacture, shipping, and retail display.

[0037]Additionally, instead of a plurality of separate adhesive sheets, a
single, continuous adhesive sheet may be wound in a helical shape to form
several layers around the wheel member. In this case, the adhesive sheet
may be double stick tape with a release sheet or have one adhesive
surface and one release surface. In either situation, the adhesive sheet
must be cut or torn to expose a new, uncontaminated adhesive outer
surface when desired. To facilitate tearing of the adhesive sheet, score
lines or perforations may be formed at intervals along the length of the
adhesive layer.

[0038]In any situation where separate sheets or a single adhesive sheet
with score lines or perforations are used, the sheets, score lines, or
perforations may be angled with respect to the wheel axis. Angling of the
edges of the sheets prevents gaps that might interfere with adherence of
items to the exposed adhesive surface of the outermost adhesive sheet.

[0039]While the inking members described above may be formed of
conventional ink stamps, the inking members may be formed of items not
specifically manufactured to carry and apply ink. For example, materials
such as sand, leather, seashells, glass, or the like may be applied to
the exposed adhesive surface of the outermost adhesive sheet to provide a
texture look to the applied ink. In this case, at least some of the
material carried on the exposed adhesive surface may be transferred to
the surface to be inked to enhance the physical texture and/or look of
the image formed on the surface to be inked.

[0040]From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the present invention
may be embodied in many different combinations and sub-combinations of
the elements and steps described above. The scope of the present
invention should thus be determined by the claims to be appended hereto
and not the foregoing detailed description.